Thirst Painting

Ivan Nedev Tanev is a freelance artist with interests and practices in oil-painting, carving, wall-painting, design and sacred art (icons and iconostasis). He was born 17.09.1952 in the village of Stoyan Zaimovo. In 1971, he graduated art middle-school in Sofia, majoring in 'Wood Carving' in Krum Kosharevski's class. Between 1975 and 1981 he graduates a Master of Fine Arts in the Sofia Art Academy in Svetlin Roussev's class. He is a member of the Union of Bulgarian Artists (UBA) since 1982 and has been chairman of the Sofia branch of the Society of Artists since 1988. He has participated in 4 international workshops in Bulgaria, Czech and Greece. His paintings can be found in every Bulgarian local gallery, as well as in private collectios in Germany, Denmark, Italy, Spain and Australia. From 1982 onwards, he has been regularly displayed in UBA exhibitions, both in Bulgaria and abroad. Notable accomplishments outside exhibitions: 1974 - Winner of the second individual award from the annual Art Crafts Contest in Oreshak (participated with wood carving) 1984 - Woodcarving of the ceiling in the lobby of the Sandanski Austrian hotel. (900/900 cm) 1986 - Sculptural carved ceiling in the Bor hotel's salon in Blagoevgrad 1987 - Scratchwork (colored plaster 400/1200cm) dimentions on the building of the Ravnopole town hall. 1994 - Exhibition 'Iconography-Ceramic-Painting' with Rumen Mateev and Antoaneta Balakchieva in Cyprus 1996 - Sculptural wood carving for the Eldorado hotel in sofia (300/200cm) 2004 - Designing and crafting the bar-tavern in Bansko's Holiday Group hotel 2008 - Decorative wall in Velingrad's Rich hotel. Also his art is part of the permanent collection of museums in Bulgaria and his paintings are in the city galleries in more then 10 cities. Thoughts of the artist: As the semantic structure of a metaphysical world, these works carry a genetic genesis through time.The connection with the primal has gone through the filter of a cultivated environment, while keeping its vitality.The reinforcement of colours structures a harmonious wholeness in the painting. How captivating can a work be, if the colours generate within themselves its ontologic essence? As for the metaphysical expanses of the spirit - painting is one of those irrational human activiti, which enters the frightening depths of the unknown like an explorer, and then transforms it into esthetic categories.